Howdy! I'm new to these forums, but i've frequented the LMW a bit and i appreciate all the work put into it ::- ) Now i'm coming on here to post my own question.
I'm super interested in CGI history, particularly The Works and other projects done by the New York Institute of Technology's Computer Graphics Lab (NYIT CGL). 3DV is an animated short from that group, and for a while I considered it lost because I couldn't find it online anywhere. You can see from the SIGGRAPH archives (link) that it was made in 1983 and shown in 1986, and is approximately 10 minutes long. The only other place I've read about this short is Rebecca Allen's website (link) (which doesn't say a runtime).
Eventually I found an upload on Youtube that was around 2:40 long, which was hardly 10 minutes, but I was really happy to see it anyways. Then that video or channel was deleted, but a while later another user (mattrharris1, who has posted a few videos of NYIT CGL projects) uploaded an even longer version at 5:37. Does anyone know if there is a full 10 minute version, or if the SIGGRAPH archive website is possibly inaccurate? I know that the clip this video cuts off on is also from the NYIT CGL (I recognize it from the website of another person who was a part of the NYIT CGL), but it might simply not be part of 3DV.
Here's the video from mattrharris1. (*flashing warning!!)
In any case, I'm glad to see what there is of it, and I hope other people can appreciate this early CGI too ::- ]
Edit: I see that Allen has an email on her website, i'll see about sending her an email about this short and see if she responds.
That one clip that was cut off comes from a currently lost short film by NYIT. The only other part currently online is a single screenshot. Photo
I would not be surprised if more of this short exists, as a lot of demos from NYIT have gone missing. Not too long ago, I did a mini search for more content with little to no success. The good thing is that we have a full list of leads to contact. List here!
I think i found my answer while looking into something else, and the short answer is no, there likely isn't:
Bil Maher and a few of the team recut some of The Works footage with other elements and created a short entitled 3DV, an acronym for DynaDigiDatavac. It was conceived as a teaser-trailer for an imaginary all-CG network of the future. Its six minutes were packed with many of the techniques CGL pioneered.
(Bold added for emphasis.) This quote is from "Moving Innovation" by Tom Sito, available on Archive.org here (link). so, there probably isn't any more to 3DV. i guess it makes sense since it seems to end on a solid note.
This book also says it was shown at SIGGRAPH in 1984 as opposed to the archive I had linked that says it was 1986... the SIGGRAPH archives say that NYIT showed there in 1984 (link to archive) but doesn't describe what, so i guess it was just shown both years.
I did email Ms Allen asking if there was any more to 3DV but I haven't gotten a response. (yet..?)
I'm still curious what comes next in the tape from the video uploader, but it's most likely not related to 3DV. I guess we'll just have to see if mattrharris1 uploads any more of his NYIT CGL tapes!
I think i found my answer while looking into something else, and the short answer is no, there likely isn't:
Bil Maher and a few of the team recut some of The Works footage with other elements and created a short entitled 3DV, an acronym for DynaDigiDatavac. It was conceived as a teaser-trailer for an imaginary all-CG network of the future. Its six minutes were packed with many of the techniques CGL pioneered.
(Bold added for emphasis.) This quote is from "Moving Innovation" by Tom Sito, available on Archive.org here (link). so, there probably isn't any more to 3DV. i guess it makes sense since it seems to end on a solid note.
This book also says it was shown at SIGGRAPH in 1984 as opposed to the archive I had linked that says it was 1986... the SIGGRAPH archives say that NYIT showed there in 1984 (link to archive) but doesn't describe what, so i guess it was just shown both years.
I did email Ms Allen asking if there was any more to 3DV but I haven't gotten a response. (yet..?)
I'm still curious what comes next in the tape from the video uploader, but it's most likely not related to 3DV. I guess we'll just have to see if mattrharris1 uploads any more of his NYIT CGL tapes!